Founded in 2017, Prolgae Spirulina Supplies Pvt Ltd. manufactures products containing microalgae Spirulina, a well-known superfood in the West.One of the ways to ensure that the future food needs are met without compromising on the environment and the nutrition intake is to shift towards sustainable food options. In addition, since the outbreak of the coronavirus, there has been a steady rise in the demand for superfoods — foods that are dense in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. People are becoming increasingly conscious of what is going inside their bodies and are leaning on superfoods to make healthier choices.One example of a superfood is Spirulina, referred to as blue-green algae that have multiple health benefits, and is a combination of several nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. While it is already well-known in the European and American markets, it isn’t that popular in the Indian subcontinent. In 2015, Aakas Sadasivam, an aeronautical engineer from Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, was taken by the startup fever. Looking for ideas to venture in, he came across reports of malnutrition, a concern in India and Africa. In his research, Aakas found out that Spirulina can help solve malnutrition. According to the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Microalgae Spirulina against Malnutrition (IIMSAM), it offers "remarkable health benefits to an undernourished person."The United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) has also attested to these claims. In fact, in 1974, during the UN World Food Conference, Spirulina was declared as the ‘Best Food for the Future’. Sowing the seeds of a successful venture In 2016, Aakas started growing and harvesting Spirulina from a ‘pilot pond’ on a small area in Chennai. For one year, he grew and harvested Spirulina on his own, learning the techniques for making the powder, which is the end product. He harvested about 10 kgs of Spirulina every month, processed it, and sold the powder to local food and pharma companies.In October 2016, Finnish entrepreneur Mika Rautio wanted to join him. Both Aakas and Mika invested $100,000 to start the company, which was formally registered in January 2017 and named Prolgae Spirulina Supplies Pvt Ltd. In 2019, the company raised $100,000 from a Slovakian angel investor. Aakas claims that it has managed to clock a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore annually. The company also has a European Union organic certification from the Control Union (CU).